Leakage tester



Nov. 18, 1952 K|$$|NGER 2,618,152

LEAKAGE TESTER Filed Jan. 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 glwvam tm Lewis Elfissinger 4? Nov. 18, 1952 L. E. KISSINGER 8,

LEAKAGE TESTER Filed Jan. 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET z 43 42 FIQ 5 29 '40 I l I, 53- 4s 44 5: 4e 48 56 6| 59 57 38 //A IIFVA HIIII 24 I8 50 I9 I3 '2 25 22 23 3 grime/PM Lewis Elfi'ssinger Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a tester and more specifically, the invention pertains to a device for testing a hydrostatically operated mechanism for pressure tightness before installation thereof in an underwater weapon, such as a mine, depth charge, torpedo, or the like.

Furthermore, the invention is particularly adapted for quickly testing devices of the afore said types thereby to detect a l akage therein due to porosity of the castings, defective rubber diaphragms and improper assembly of the component parts thereof without employing water or any other wetting fiuid in contact with the device under test during the testing operation.

Heretofore the method employed for testing hydrostatically operated devices of this character and the component parts thereof for pressure tightness has not proven entirely satisfactory for the reason that the test comprised immersing one side of the device under test in water or coating the device with a copious amount of soap solution and applying air under pressure to the other side thereof. Should the casting of the device under test have a leakage therein caused by an imperfection the fluid or soap solution would see into the interior of the casting and render the mechanism therein inoperative or otherwise necessitate the complete overhauling and cleaning of the component parts thereof before the devices could be put in service.

The present invention provides a new and improved tester whereby a hydrostatically operated device may be tested without the use of water or other wetting fluid in contact therewith and in which means are provided for indicating the rate and volume of air leakage through the component parts of the device under test.

One of the obiects of the present invention is the rovision of a new and improved tester for testing the ressure tightness of a hydrostatically operated device without the use of water or other wetting agent in contact with the device.

Another obiect is to provide a new and improved tester adapted to detect and measure the rate and volume of air leakage occurring through the device under test due to improper construction or im erfections therein when air pressure is applied thereto.

Another object is to provide a new and improved air controlled device' for testing the leakage of a hydrostatically operated device for use with an underwater weapon.

A further object is to provide a new and improved tester for quicklyand accurately detecting the leakage of air occurring through the device under test and the rate of such leakage when the device is sealed within the tester and air under pressure is applied to one side thereof.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily 'appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially irrelevation and partially in section and showing the cam arrangement for sealing the device under test within a pair of separable containers;

Fig. 3 is a. central longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the sealing gasket employed with the present invention; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof the tester of the present invention is generallyindicated by the reference character l0 and is especially adapted for testing castings and the hydrostatically operated mechanisms therein for pressure tightness prior to installing such devices in service in an ordnance weapon such, for I example, as a mine, depth charge. torpedo, or the like. Y As shown on Fig. 3, the tester comprises" a lower container ll, having an enlarged circular wall I2 inte rally formed on the u er end thereof and constituting a well [3 in which is disposed the device I to be tested for imperfectionsand known to those skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates as a clock starter mechanism, the flan e I5 thereof being disposed on a shoulder l6 arranged within the aforesaid well l3.

An upper container l1, Fig. 3, has an enlarged head l8 formed thereon and constituting 'a'cir cular upstanding flange l9 having a pair of 'o'ppositely disposed handles 2!! secured theretoin any suitable manner, such for example. as" by welding the parts together. By the aforesaid handle arrangement it will be understood that the container I! may be rotated with respect'to the container II, the purpose of which will be more clearly apparent as the description proceeds. A plurality of spaced cam members2l are integrally formed on the flange '19, eacli' cam member being provided with a cam surface 22 arranged thereon.

Arranged about the member I2 and in spaced relation with respect to each other are a plurality of bolts 23, having heads 24 formed on one end thereof respectively and disposed within the well.v l3. the --bolts being. secured to the wall l2 in an .suitable manner, preferably by nuts 25 threaded on the other end thereof and in abutting engagement with the outer surfaceof the wall [2, Fig. 2. From the foregoing description, together with the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that the heads Mon. bolts 23 are adapted to coast with the cam surfaces 22 in such a manner as to clampand sealithecontalners H and I! together and concurrently therewith seal the device to be tested therebetween thereby to provide a;h igh ;pre ssure charnber 26 within container I l in which thelower side of the device is disposed and a low pressure .chember .2 w thin th on aine H ic .1 ppen ideofihe ioresai ev c -.iadispos dcham er 115, comm n cation wit the mosphere .as by vent ipelfl secured .to the l etend .Q th -wri ab e in.:a y. .sui ab e manner such, ;for example, as threading the parts. together and extending a predetermined amount. thereabove, Fig. .;3,. the purpose. of which wi l b emo e pparent as the descript proceeds.

,The high .pressure chamber 25 -is sealed -with respect to the low pressure chamber by ,a;gasket 3:|;.-composed of, any-material suitable for-"thepurpose, :suchasrubber; or. any of- .the syntheticvari- .ties .thereof, the gasket. being disposed between heemore, clearly. apparent as .the description .pro- --.ceeds. .By the aforesaid sealin n a me the air under pressure admittedin therchamberjfi yuay .Qi letpipe 34 and. c o ed'b a a i 5i 11e e n' ma a ne i in h qhe Asshown on Fig.'3, the container, lj 1s pro- 'vided wi-th a reliefgyalve 35 adapted to relieve the pressure withinchamber 26 when desired, as, for example, when-a test has been completed-r when excess pressure hasbeen admitted therein .plurality of portsfill, the purpose of which .willnduringqa testing :operation, the container also :being provided with apressure gauge "31; secured thereto and' in communication withechamber 26 .dbserying the amount :of'ipressure therein. Ar an ed :on the, iupper -o r-.gndll; 38 r :the

wcen a ne lanl t "eqmn s efa y m stantiallywceshaped .tube- 51. comp-Q ed -of .any transparent material suitable for the purpose .such, ,ior example. -.-a s.g1ass, :one end -42 thereof :screws 5| or the like. the plate .48. and the inclined portion t5 thereof is maintained in engagement with the member 4? :inaany suitablemanner but preferably by a pair 3'thettube il restsonamemberlil secured to an L-shaped bracket or plate 48 as by screws or bolts 49, the bracket being secured to the plate 39 and end wall 38 of the container H as by The tube Al is secured to of spac,ed wires 52 secured to the plate 58 and looped about the member 4'! and portion 45 of the tube dlgandhyzan additional wire 53 secured to the aforesaid plate and looped about the portion 54 of the tube.

T a an eme the B ke it plate. 9

; between theend wall .38- on container. l-Landthe manometer. support-.43 ,prevents the -transfer .,of

temperature changes, from -.th8-,container to, .the

manometer caused by the operators' hand. coming in contact-therewith particularly whenthe vent pipe 29 is closed by.theoperatorisfinger. during the testing'operation. .Fromtheforegoing description and arrangementit .will .be understood that spurious temperaturechanges arethus. preventedfrom efiectingthe manometer.

As shown more olearly on Fig.4, thegasket. 3| comprises; a pair of annular seetionsfifi and 51 secured together by .a plurality of spaced webs 58-of lesser thickness than-the sectionsfiliand 51 thereby to providean air,leakage channe1.,.59,on each side of the webswhichis incommunication with a plurality of spaced elongated openings-,6, I

respectively, the- --openi n g being in communication with the ports. 58, Figs. lwand 2. .By the foregoing construction and arrangement should air under pressure-incharnber .26 leak past the section 56 of gaskct 3| :itwill bedirected-tothe ambient atmospherebywayof channels, 59,. openings 6|, and Ipozrts;Biland .thusthepressureiresulting from-such .a leakage is prevented -from entering chamber-'2'! and efiectingthemanorneter reading during a testing operation.

It Will be-understoodthat the manometerindicates thevolume of airleakage .into. the upper chamber and the time rate ofsuchdeakag-e should the device undertesthave any imperfections: therein when the-testerisin operation anda: predetermined pressurezhas been=supplied;to--the.lower chamber.

Inorder for .the-tes-t to-be sufficientlysensitive for the purpose zintencled itzisnecessary that the manometer ,--operate :on a pressuregeguiualent of ;.a depth-of about 0-.097 inchof water. lllhis is-low enough such that theeair i -n -.the upper chamber is not; appreciably .co pressed to :efiiect ;a slight vemen of "oi -:-w th e t e- Th ensi ivi y of the manometer is accomplished by inclining h or ni tthetu e ub tantia y .03 ,1 c

' p .h o the leng t ereo Whe i-th 'testi i e e i i a rticalpesit en and by t ja ns o the a o e aid g bula -cor ei-I- ath lowermostpprtionof the tube; asshown on Big-. 3

when the vent 29 is open. Thereforalduringtestin-g operation sheuld oil .withintheportionfi of the-tube movea distanceef .oneinchirral) seconds it would indicate that the deviceunder testihas imperfections ein sHb mtiallYequ yalent to a water .leak of onesdrqpa; day and .thus by inspectin 0her eoi moveme i e .theie hbiibble this rate of leakage is determined and thus it could be determined whether the device was fit for service.

The operation of the device will now be described. Let it be assumed by way of example, that the device to be tested is clamped in the vertical position as shown on Fig. 3, and in sealed relation with respect to the aforesaid containers H and I"! thereby to provide the high and low pressure chambers 26 and 2'! respectively. When this has been accomplished, the globule of oil will be in the position shown on Fig. 3. Air under pressure is now admitted into the chamber 26 such, for example, as 60 pounds per square inch by way of inlet pipe 34 as the valve 35 therein is operated to an open position. Air pressure is thus applied to one side of the device under test which is disposed within chamber 26. While the pressure within chamber 26 is building up, the vent 29 in the leakage chamber 21 remains open to the atmosphere, whereupon the air displaced by the flexing of the diaphragm or other movable parts of the mechanism under test will not afiect the pressure within the chamber 2'! or the operation of the manometer and the oil globule remains in this initial position shown. When the indicator on the pressure gauge 31 indicates the required amount of pressure within the chamber 26, the valve .35 is closed. When this has been accomplished and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, sufiicient to allow the air pressure, diaphragm, and other parts of the mechanism to become stable; the vent 29 in communication with the chamber 2'! is closed in any suitable manner such, for example, as by placing a finger thereover. From the foregoing description it will be understood that should the device under test have any leakage therein caused, for example, by p0- rosity of the casting, faulty assembly, or a defective flexible diaphragm, the rate of leakage of air from the high pressure chamber 26 through such defect and into the low pressure chamber 2'! will be readily detected by the rate of movement of the manometer fluid in response to an increase in the fluid within chamber 21 caused by the aforesaid air leakage and directed thereto by way of pipe 29, flexible connection 43, and thence to tube 4|. As the finger is removed from vent 29 the oil globule returns to the initial position shown on Fig. 3.

Valve 35 is closed, valve 36 is opened to relieve the a pressure within chamber 26 and the device under test is removed from the tester.

In the event that the device under test did not leak when pressure was applied thereto from chamber 26, the oil globule 45 remains stationary in the lowermost position of the tube 4| as the vent 29 is closed.

Whereas in the embodiment of the invention illustrated the vent 29 is adapted to be closed by the operators finger, obviously, if desired, a valve or other closing device may be employed for this purpose.

Briefly stated in summary, the foregoing inven tion contemplates the provision of a new and improved leakage tester for detecting the volume and time rate of leakage in hydrostatically operated mechanisms such, for example, as the types employed in a mine, depth charge, torpedo, or the like, without employing liquid or other wetting substance in contact with the mechanism under test.

For purposes of illustration, the invention has been described in connection with clock starter mechanism, but it is obviously not so limited, it being adapted for testing various hydrostatically operated mechanisms employed in ordnance weapons for pressure tightness.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

. The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the character disclosed for testing the leakage of a hydrostatically operated mechanism suitable for use with an ordnance weapon and comprising a pair of separable casings, means including a plurality of headed devices for securing said casings together in sealed relation and concurrently therewith sealing said mechanism therebetween, means including a valve secured to one of said casings for applying air at a predetermined fixed pressure to one side of said mechanism, normally open vent means for the other one of said casings, and means including a pressure responsive device secured to said other casing in communication therewith and op-' eratively connected to said vent means for indicating the time rate and exact volume of minute air leakage in said mechanism as said vent means is closed.

2. A device of the character disclosed for testing the leakage of a hydrostatically operated mechanism suitable for use with an ordnance weapon and comprisin a pair of upper and lower casings rotatable with respect to each other, a plurality of cam surfaces on said upper casing, a plurality of cam engaging devices on said lower casing constructed and arranged to coact with said cam surfaces for securing said casings together in sealed relation with respect to each other and with said mechanism as the upper casing is rotated to a sealed position, means for rotating said upper casing, means including a manually operated valve secured to the lower casing for maintaining air at a predetermined fixed pressure therein and applied to. one side of the mechanism when the valve is opened, means including a pressure responsive device secured to the upper casing in communication therewith for indicatin the time rate and volume of minute air leakage in the mechanism as said air under pressure in the lower casing is forced therethrough and into the upper casing, and means secured to said upper casing in communication therewith and operatively connected to said pressure responsive device for rendering the responsived device effective when the air in said lower casing has reached said predetermined fixed value of pressure.

3. A device of the character disclosed for testing the leakage of a hydrostatically operated mechanism suitable for use with an ordnance weapon and comprising a container having a pair of separable casings, means for securing and sealing said casings together and concurrently therewith sealing said mechanism between the casings thereby to provide a high pressure chamber on one side of the mechanism and a low pressure chamber on the other side thereof, means secured to one of the casings for maintaining air at a predetermined fixed pressure in said high pressure chamber and applied to said one side of 'a'ersusa the mechanism; a normallyopen'vent fo'rsaid low pressure chamber; and'means including a pressureresponsive device secured to the other one of said casings and in communicationwith said low pressure chamber for indicating the volume of minuteair leakage in said mechanism as the vent is-closed.

4. A device of the character disclosed for testing the leakage-of a hydrostatic pressure operated mechanism suitable for use with an ordnance weapon and comprising a container having a pairof separable upper and lower casings, means for securing and sealing said casings together and concurrently therewith sealing said mechanism therebetween thereby toprovide a high pressure chamber on one side and a low pressure chamterm the other'side thereof, means includinga "valve on said lower casing for maintaining air 'at a predetermined fixed pressure in said high pressure chamber suficient to operate said mech- -=an'i'sm, a normally open vent secured to said uppercasing and in communication with said low pressure chamber for preventing a change in the pressure therein While the mechanism is operating inresponse to said fixed pressure, and means operatively connected to said vent incommunication with the low pressure chamber for indicating the rate and volume of minute air leakage in the mechanism when said vent is closed.

5. A 'device of the character disclosed for test- 'ingthe' leakage of a mechanism comprisin a casting having the fiexibile pressure responsive element therein, said device comprising'a pair of upper'and lower casings, means including a plurality of cams on one of said casings for securing and sealing said casings together and concurrently therewith sealing said casting therebetween'thereby to provide a high pressure chamber on oneside and a low pressure chamber on the other side of said casting, means including 'a valve on said lower casing for maintaining air at a predetermined fixed pressure in said high pressure chamber and applied to said one side of the casting, a pressure responsive device secured to the upper casing and operatively connected to the low pressure chamber, and a normally open vent'operatively connected to said pressure responsive device and'in communication with saidflow'pressure chamber for 8 preventing operation thereof in response to'the air displaced by the flexing of said flexible element as the pressure within the high pressure chamber is building up to saidpredeterm'ined fixed value, said pressure responsivedevice being constructed and arranged to indicate the'rate mechanism, means for applyin air ata-predetermined fixed pressure to said high pressure chamber, a normally open duct in communication with said low pressure chamber and the ambient air, pressure responsive meansin com munication with the low pressure chamber and operatively connected to said duct, and an indi cating element arranged within said responsive means and movable from an initial position variably in accordance with the pressure differential applied thereto as the duct is closed'thereby to indicate the leakage in said mechanism as said predetermined fixed pressure is applied to the high pressure chamber. I

LEWIS E. KISSINGER.

REFERENCES QITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 669,529 Kennedy Mar. 12, 1901 1,145,676 Ellison July 6, 1915 1,361,142 Cook Dec. 7, 1920 1,599,964 Haven Sept. 14, 1926 2,417,988 Mooney Mar. 25', 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Publication Leakage Tester U. S. Naval Ordnance Lab. Aug. 27, 1948, four pages. 

